First big viewing night/morning

neB · #1 18-10-2006, 01:04 PM

Hi All,

New to this game, but have had a few nights staying up till midnight looking at various bits and pieces. Had a good sticky at Jupiter, Alpha-cent twin and the Moon (Typical newbie stuff I imagine).

But this weekend there is so much happening I'm having my first get up early session. This is my plan (all based on Brisbane), I'd appreciate any thoughts.

Sat 21 - 1748 - my first iridium flare
- followed by viewing of the TV show on ex-planet Pluto I taped from SBS a couple of weeks ago (to set the mood)

Sun 22 - get up about 2am and set-up
- 0201-onwards. Orionids meteor viewing and general poking about
- 0333 GPS rocket
- 0400ish start my first viewing of Saturn
- 0401 ISS
- 0419 lacrosse 4
- 0429 UARS
- 430-on New moon viewing

- 1941 2nd Iridium flare

I have the timetable so I don't miss anything.

Have printouts from Heavensabove for location of fast moving bits.

Red LED torch *2 - check.
Viewing chair - check.
Radio and earphones - check.

My scope ("bought" on frequent flyer points) is a Saxon 114mm * 900mm. With a few eyepieces (4, 10 & 25), some filters and a 3x Barlow. I'm already eye-ing off bigger and better scopes.

Looking forward to the weekend, but I notice the forecast for Brissie is rain for Sat night. Might need to move forward to Friday night as plan-B.

I'm off to buy the new AS&T.

Stayed tuned for my next project - The Moon!

Thought this might bring back memories for some of you?

Happy viewing,
neB

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #2 18-10-2006, 01:34 PM

G'Day neB - and welcome

hehe.. you got the bug... you got it baaaad... !

I'm not long in this game, but as far as I can gather - you at your stage are absolutely NO different to pretty-well everyone here. Old stuff is new again every time you look at it. Got to love that.

Have fun!

Cheers
Chris

h0ughy (David) · #3 18-10-2006, 01:39 PM

top stuff. Hope you get together with some QLDers from some of the societies up there - 1ponders will have some information on that for you.

rmcpb (Rob) · #4 18-10-2006, 01:45 PM

Neb,

Welcome to IIS.

Boy, that is quite some timetable you have there but you will have a ball. Don't knock your scope, it will do you for quite a while to let you learn your way around really well, then think of upgrading.

Keep looking up....

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #5 18-10-2006, 02:41 PM

Hi Neb,
Welcome to IIS.
We have our viewing night this Saturday up at Kenilworth. We get people up from Brissy, Sunshine Coast and surrounds. You should come on up. It's a great night and a chance to put faces to names.

Ric · #6 19-10-2006, 09:54 AM

Hi Neb, welcome to the group.

It sounds like your weekend evenings are well planned, you will be quite busy but it's all good fun, you will have to send in a report. I have some imaging that I want to do myself but everytime I have a go the clouds roll in, so maybe this weekend I'll be lucky.

cheers

neB · #7 20-10-2006, 03:45 PM

Thanks for all the good vibes.

drmorbious has already informed me of the Kenilworth weekends. I'd like to come up to one soon to check out the scene a bit more. Until then, I live on acreage outside of town so my skies are reasonably dark. Unless, (from the BOM):

Forecast for Saturday
Afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms developing. Moderate N to NE
winds with a late fresh SE change.

Precis: Afternoon and evening showers and storms
City: Min 18 Max 30
Bayside: Min 17 Max 27

Bugger.

rmcpb (Rob) · #8 20-10-2006, 08:23 PM

Yep, it happens a lot on the new moon weekends, or are we just more sensitive to cloudy nights at these times

Been cloudy here for two days and likely to be so for the next few, oh well it makes it special when we get good nights....

Ric · #9 20-10-2006, 11:44 PM

At the moment I just have really strong winds. Its blown all the clouds away but theres no way I'm risking the girls outside with those big gusts.

Hope its better for every one else.

acropolite (Phil) · #10 21-10-2006, 08:39 AM

Welcome to IIS neB, satellites sure are a good way to get the Astro juices flowing. As Rob indicated there is a lot you can see even with your little scope. This website will give you a list of suitable targets and a printable skymap for the southern hemisphere.

neB · #11 23-10-2006, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric

Hi Neb, welcome to the group.

It sounds like your weekend evenings are well planned, you will be quite busy but it's all good fun, you will have to send in a report. I have some imaging that I want to do myself but everytime I have a go the clouds roll in, so maybe this weekend I'll be lucky.

cheers

My report:
Friday night - 90% cloud cover - saw nothing
Saturday night - storms, lightning, 23mm rain. Checked at 9pm, 10pm, 1am and 3am - couldn't see a single star on any occasion.

Oh well. Bring on the next one...

rmcpb (Rob) · #12 23-10-2006, 01:44 PM

Tonight may be an option. My scope is going out as soon as I get home

Ric · #13 23-10-2006, 04:30 PM

Thats a bummer Neb, the weekend was the same for me but as Rob said tonight is looking good for me with clear skies all day.
Hope you get some viewing in soon.

cheers

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #14 23-10-2006, 07:06 PM

A fantastic night coming up - the second in a row. Cool and still.

spacezebra (Petra) · #15 23-10-2006, 07:40 PM

Welcome to IIS neB

Enjoy

Cheers Petra